Queen of Ghana

Queen of Ghana

Elizabeth II was the Queen of Ghana from 1957 to 1960. At this time, Ghana was its own independent country and a constitutional monarchy. As queen, Elizabeth II was also the leader of the United Kingdom and many other countries. In Ghana, her duties were carried out by the governor-general of Ghana, who acted in her place. This was a special time for Ghana, as it had just gained its independence. Having a queen helped the country as it began to shape its new government.

History

Ghana was the first country in Western Africa to become independent from European rule. This happened in 1957, when the area known as the British Crown Colony of the Gold Coast turned into the independent country of Ghana. At that time, Queen Elizabeth II was the head of state. Because she could not be there in person, her aunt, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, stood in for her. On March 6, 1957, Princess Marina opened Ghana’s first parliament and shared a special message from the Queen to the people of Ghana. The Queen’s message welcomed Ghana to the group of independent nations and wished the country success and friendship with other nations.

Constitutional role

Ghana was part of the Commonwealth of Nations and shared the same person as Sovereign and head of state.

Starting in 1957, the Queen was represented in Ghana by the Governor-General of Ghana. The Governor-General was chosen by the Queen based on advice from the Ghanaian government. The Governor-General helped make important decisions for the country.

The Queen and the National Assembly of Ghana made up the Parliament of Ghana. All important powers in Ghana belonged to the sovereign. Laws in Ghana needed approval, called royal assent, from the Governor-General for the Queen. The Governor-General also called meetings of Parliament, ended meetings, and could end Parliament. All ministers in Ghana served as long as the Governor-General approved.

The monarch gave out special awards and honors in Ghana. Most of these were decided by "Her Majesty's Ghana Ministers".

See also

• 1958 Birthday Honours
• 1959 Birthday Honours
• 1960 Birthday Honours
• 1958 New Year Honours
• 1959 New Year Honours
• 1960 New Year Honours

The Royal Style and Titles Act, 1957 of the Parliament of Ghana gave the monarch a special title for her role as Queen of Ghana.

Queen Elizabeth II had different titles during her time as the monarch of Ghana:

• 6 March 1957 – 27 July 1957: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
• 27 July 1957 – 1 July 1960: Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Ghana and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Oath of allegiance

In Ghana, people made a special promise called the oath of allegiance. They said, "I, (name), swear that I will be faithful and loyal to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Ghana, and to her heirs and successors according to the law. So help me God." This promise showed their loyalty to the queen and to the country.

Abolition

In 1960, Ghana voted to change its government. Instead of a queen, Ghana chose a president. This made Ghana a republic, but it stayed part of the Commonwealth. The Queen sent a message saying she was proud of Ghana for choosing its own way of government and that she would keep caring about the people of Ghana.

Royal visits

In 1958, Queen Elizabeth II said she and her husband would visit Ghana in 1959. Ghana planned to make a special coin with the Queen’s picture on it, but they did not make the coin because the visit was delayed. This was because the Queen became pregnant.

In November 1959, Prince Philip visited Ghana for six days. He opened the Ghana Academy of Learning, now called the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and became its first leader. He also met with women traders from Accra, who gave him a gold tie-pin.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Ghana twice — first from November 9 to 20 in 1961, and again from November 7 to 9 in 1999. During her 1961 visit, she danced with Ghana’s president, Kwame Nkrumah, at a farewell ball in Accra. This moment was important for the history of the Commonwealth.